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Tubs of chocolate & toiletries gift sets - show no thought

217 replies

notedbiscuits · 12/09/2024 11:23

Now shops have aisles full of gift sets - mainly toiletries. Plus tubs of chocolates

To me, they make me think they are bought by people who give no thought. Plus some gift sets are more expensive than buying them separately. Take Dove, 2 bottles of shower gel and a body puff thing. Cost in shop £6. Go to a shop and can buy the bottles for £1.50 and body puff thing is 75p-£1 (though doesn't have the Dove tag on it) You are paying £2 for a box! Card Factory do sell gift bags for that size for about 75p. For me also, there are things in gift sets which I don't use such as bubble bath and bath salts - have shower. Last week I had a clear out of the cupboard which has medications, toiletries etc and put some of these into food banks and the posher brands, to those charity shops that do sell (unused) toiletries.

Those tubs of chocolate, which get smaller each year, There's always one chocolate families don't eat. Quality Street- toffee finger and penny - due to fillings, Heroes - Eclairs (they cheapen it by adding Eclairs) again due to fillings.

Remember being behind a woman buying 50 odd tubs of the same chocolate. Said to the cashier "Oh that's my Christmas present shopping done in one shop". Glad I am not related/friends with her. As she would give each member a tub.

If you have no idea what to buy someone, don't buy anything. My family have not sent each other Xmas presents for many years. Why waste time, money and stress?

OP posts:
phoenixrosehere · 12/09/2024 18:36

Depends on the person and who they are buying for.

Close family members buying those things for me, it would be thoughtless since I am not keen on chocolate and don’t want to spend the time trying to find a use for it nor want to consume it just to get rid and am particular about body washes due to skin issues.

Saying that, I rather receive body washes because they are easier for me to donate due to the Hygiene Bank being a few minutes walk from me.

alpacachino · 12/09/2024 18:22

For a lot of people it will be a like a side present or something for the neighbours

yellowroses78 · 12/09/2024 18:10

Body wash is a very useful gift!

DrFoxtrot · 12/09/2024 17:57

I completely agree with PP saying they prefer gifts that consumable and not cluttering the house.

Chocolates, shower gels etc are perfect presents for me.

FayCarew · 12/09/2024 17:15

Tesco Essentials Shower Gel Lightly Fragranced 300ml - Tesco Groceries
Go on, treat yourself.@cadburyegg

SisterB · 12/09/2024 17:14

JaninaDuszejko · 12/09/2024 11:34

TBH as someone in their 50s with a house full of stuff it's the 'thoughtful' presents that I'm expected to treasure forever that cause me more pain than the standard bottle of booze, toiletries sets, boxes of chocolates type consumables that I can either use or dispose of easily without feeling guilty. Gift giving is a social expectation but it works best if everyone gives low stakes gifts.

Completely agree with this (also in my 50s).

I find the vast majority of gifts a big waste of time and resources and quite often a lazy way of keeping in contact.

We have someone in the family who genuinely thinks they are great at buying presents and prides themselves in this. I'm afraid the opposite is true. They may have popped round several months before and noticed me unpacking some new wine glasses (replacing the old ones that went down the charity shop with ones I really like)...so next Christmas they'll buy me wine glasses (just like the ones that went down the charity shop and I don't need more wine glasses anyway!). I may mention that I have never been in a particular shop (as I have zero interest in anything they sell) - I'll get a gift voucher for that shop on my birthday. DH has had a new wallet at least every two years from them, and hasn't used wallets for years. Yes, thoughtful but...anything beyond a standard gift item I would much rather choose myself (or simply not have more stuff).

Would much rather have a tub of chocolates (that I can take into work if I don't want them) than a 'thoughtful' gift. Better still - let's not bother, and let's just meet up and spend some time together.

My love language is definitely NOT gifts - that is bottom of the list. Acts of service/quality time mean much more to me.

cadburyegg · 12/09/2024 16:29

I would love for someone to buy me chocolate or shower gel. Bliss.

queenofguineapigs · 12/09/2024 16:17

Vimaybe · 12/09/2024 12:53

There should be a swap shop for chocolates. I'll take any toffee pennies and coconuts for my vile strawberry and orange creams. All in date from a non-smoking no pet household 😁

Grin
suburburban · 12/09/2024 16:14

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 12/09/2024 15:36

I loved toffee pennies until I managed to pull out a temporary crown with one

Yes I did the same.

I suck sweets now carefully

queenofguineapigs · 12/09/2024 16:14

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 12/09/2024 15:36

I loved toffee pennies until I managed to pull out a temporary crown with one

I managed to pull a filling out twice - from the same tooth - with M&S Devon toffies.

I finally learnt my very expensive lesson the second time and haven't eaten them since!

queenofguineapigs · 12/09/2024 16:13

Acornsoup · 12/09/2024 12:35

If you would buy this gift, I think better to shorten your gift list. It is senseless to buy unnecessary tat for the sake of it. Not to mention the expense, and where does it stop? Make an agreement with family and friends well in advance of Christmas and then stick to it.

I agree it's senseless to buy unnecessary tat.

I suppose tat is in the eye of the beholder.

As I said, I'd hate to get hand cream or body lotion, but would use a shower gel, even if I wasn't that keen on the scent.

FayCarew · 12/09/2024 16:03

Even the expensive stuff is pointless IMO. SIL gave me and DM a hand lotion and handwash gift sets from an upmarket brand. I can't stand the feel of hand cream and get eczema from sodium laureth sulpahate, and DM didn't realise that it was £££.

I know it seems ungrateful but it was something she wanted to give, not something we wanted to receive.

Makingchocolatecake · 12/09/2024 15:37

Well I will always appreciate chocolate because it's chocolate but I agree that shower gel etc is a rubbish present.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 12/09/2024 15:36

I loved toffee pennies until I managed to pull out a temporary crown with one

FayCarew · 12/09/2024 15:35

I asked in my nearest charity shop and the manager said they offer them to the volunteers. It's a national charity one.
Also the boxes tend to be quite bulky, so they would take up space.
I haven't got space for them.
I get given so many that I wonder if people are trying to tell me something.

Butteredtoast55 · 12/09/2024 14:45

Lots of people buy tubs of chocolates for employees, the Food banks appreciate them and they're a treat for some families so YABU.
Likewise toiletries can be donated if they're not your cup of tea. Some people like giving gifts to others so I choose to think they're given with good intent usually.

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 12/09/2024 14:37

FayCarew · 12/09/2024 14:33

@NoahsTortoise , it's not good when you get several gift sets and are unlikely to use any of it.

Charity shops don't all accept toiletries, and they probably get a glut of Christmas-themed ones in January.

@mumda, the Boots near me has a donation box.

Some charity shops do, where I live anyway.

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 12/09/2024 14:36

mumda · 12/09/2024 14:32

I have collected together all the shower gels etc that I will never use and have half a carrier bag full of them. Need to find a good home for them .... Food bank maybe?

Yes, or Women's Aid.

Calliopespa · 12/09/2024 14:35

Limth · 12/09/2024 11:34

It's true that you often do end up using the body wash or whatever comes in these gift sets but that doesn't make them good gifts

I'd definitely use a 4-pack of bog rolls, a year's supply of tampons and a tube of Anusol if someone gifted them to me. Doesn't mean they're particularly thoughtful or exciting presents to open on Christmas Day 😅

Please don’t anyone give me anusol or a year’s supply of tampons to open in front of my IL’s !

FayCarew · 12/09/2024 14:33

@NoahsTortoise , it's not good when you get several gift sets and are unlikely to use any of it.

Charity shops don't all accept toiletries, and they probably get a glut of Christmas-themed ones in January.

@mumda, the Boots near me has a donation box.

jay55 · 12/09/2024 14:33

I love it when I get dove or Nivea or radox sets, stuff that will get used, and saves me buying. Chocolate fine, any I don't want I can leave in the kitchen at work or drop off for the food bank.

I'm less keen when it's the less plain toiletries and candles. Candles are a nightmare, no where takes them now.

MissEsmeWatson · 12/09/2024 14:33

MintyNew · 12/09/2024 13:31

I hate buying gifts as I never know what to buy, I just do vouchers or generic gifts.

Vouchers are good, give you something to spend at the sales 😃

mumda · 12/09/2024 14:32

I have collected together all the shower gels etc that I will never use and have half a carrier bag full of them. Need to find a good home for them .... Food bank maybe?

MissEsmeWatson · 12/09/2024 14:30

Don't want to sound like a goody two shoes, but I'm genuinely pleased if someone has bothered to buy me a present. Any chocolate is fine by me, toiletries not so great because of eczema, but there are plenty of charity shops or tombola happy to receive them.

thefamous5 · 12/09/2024 14:28

I like a gift set and chocolates.

The chocolates make a nice treat to a family movie night and I'd use the shower gels and creams so I don't mind them at all.

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